Like lab work if it's nice and constant (10)

I believe the answer is:

scientific

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'like lab work if it's nice and constant' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.

'work if it's nice and constant' is the wordplay.
'work' indicates anagramming the letters.
'and' says to put letters next to each other.
'constant' becomes 'c' (mathematical abbreviation).
'if'+'its'+'nice'='ifitsnice'
'ifitsnice' anagrammed gives 'scientifi'.
'scientifi'+'c'='SCIENTIFIC'

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(Other definitions for scientific that I've seen before include "Trained in biology, perhaps" , "using what's proven" , "Systematic; methodical" , "Based on observation" , "As experiment" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.

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